Miss Otis Regrets She's Unable to Lunch Today

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:55pm

Ella, of course, is the definitive, but who else do you like?

There's an Ella YouTube but it's a vocal only, so I won't post it. I always find those disappointing.

Bette?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQnl4TX5wOE

Carmen McRae?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oE32ONYPwU

Bobby Short?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxD1DegO6ug

Or Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLYCOXjq2s

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:56pm

I vote for Bette.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 1:57pm

Didn't Langly perform this song for Phoebe on All My Children once?

[postergirl]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:30pm

Ethel Waters!!!!!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:32pm

Yes, Ethel Waters is a serious contender for the best. I wish there were a YouTube.

[postergirl]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:34pm

Me too.

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:34pm

This song was one of the few Cole Porter songs NOT written for any show or performer- he wrote it to sing when asked to perform at parties. Can you imagine Cole Porter singing this in a fancy living room????

I was born too late.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:39pm

Actually he wrote it for his best friend and partner-in-crime, Monty Wooley, to sing.

Here are Cole and Monty, having a little fun.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:41pm

And here's an anecdote from Charles Schwartz's Cole Porter: A Biography:

"It seems that Cole and Monty Woolley were driving in Manhattan one evening in the thirties, in an open car. They were cruising for some action -- a ‘f**king party,’ as they called it -- when they stopped for a light.

"Spotting a young, virile-looking sailor standing at the corner, they motioned him to come to the car. When he approached them, Woolley quickly spoke up and invited the sailor into the car. Taken somewhat aback by the tone of the invitation, the sailor retorted, ‘What are you, c**ksuckers?’

"Without batting an eyelash, Woolley wittily replied, ‘Well, now that the preliminaries are out of the way, why don’t you jump in the car and we can discuss the matter further.’"


Cole Porter: A Biography

Updated On: 2/12/08 at 02:41 PM

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:42pm

Oh I WAS born too late!

[kooky]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 2:54pm

Nat King Cole does a great version of this tune as well !

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 3:04pm

Ya got me all worked up PJ--I was expecting glass coffee tables and veggie chili to figure prominently.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 3:28pm

Oh, right--I forgot how much I love Nat King Cole's version!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 2/12/08 at 3:59pm

Bette and Marc will always win out for me.

They have taken a good song, that has an awfully slow tempo, and made it fun.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 1:10am

I thought that you meant that Bette DAVIS was singing it.

I do enjoy Bette Midler's version.

But, you HAVE to admit that if Bette Davis had sung it, it would have been a head-trip.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 1:23am

Bette!!!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:01am

**Hearing Bette Davis in my head doing a bizarre, but oddly definitive "Miss Otis"**

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:07am

the versions i know are Ella, Alberta Hunter & Kirsty MacColl.

[blueroses]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:38am

Kirsty sang that?

I loved Bette Midler's version.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 8:47am

Interesting that this thread came up. I have been listening to Bette's version at work for the past few weeks. It popped into my head and I put it in with my work music.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 9:51am

I have always loved Bette's version.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 10:28am

Am at work now and it's playing!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 2/13/08 at 11:05am

Fred Astaire!